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Palestine Presentation

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آخر تحديث : 08-04-2014

First and foremost excuse my Arabic that I love in the form of prose and poetry yet don't understand grammatically; thanks to inane and conscious-free teachers.
What are comics and graphic novels?
I am not going to take you back to the caveman days, nor will I take you to the beginnings of storytelling or novels.
Let us just say that comic books and graphic novels belong to an art-form that fuses words with images.
Why did this fusion come to be?
To give a story, a character or a cause another dimension!
Had Johann Gutenberg, who invented the printing press, been an illustrator he would have opted to illustrate the Holy Bible instead of printing it.
Gutenberg sadly died poor. Another example on how not all creative people make good money out of their creativity especially writers in the Middle East.
Actually William Blake, the English poet and engraver, did that. He created engravings of scenes and stories from the Holy Bible. The man was so creative that he illustrated his own poems. Blake is probably one of the first graphic novel writers and illustrators in the world.
Last night and while I was preparing my presentation I found myself going through one of Hassan Manasrah's Fabcebook albums. His amazing work and the work of other artists in Jordan reminded me to keep things simple during my presentation and not try to come out as a know-it-all as I don't know it all.
You've all probably heard of Joe Sacco's Palestine in which he brilliantly fuses the art of comics with journalism. After spending two months in the West Bank, Gaza and the Occupied Territories Sacco wrote and illustrated a total of 280 pages.
Upon reading Palestine I asked myself, "what is stopping us from creating such a work that reflects our ideas and vision as Arab writers and illustrators?"
This question is the main reason why we are here tonight at The Studio; to work together on producing Palestine: The Graphic Novel. Many artists and writers have expressed their ideas and visions of Palestine before us, however, not in Graphic Novel format.
Our graphic novel and through the imagination of the participating writers and illustrators will not only be about the pain, death and tragedy that have surrounded the lives of Palestinians since Al Nakba in 1948 but will also be about their innate hope and optimism.
"What do we want to achieve through this cultural-artistic-literary project?" someone might ask.
A graphic novel about Palestine; establish a creative dwelling for creative people, The Studio, an amazing art house run by four amazing female artists, where writers, poets, illustrators and artists can work together on more graphic novels.
The proceeds from the sale of our graphic novel will go to a charity in Palestine.
Laila Demashqieh, my friend, and who has been working with me since day one on this project will tell you more about our plans.
I was at Books@Cafe buying comics when the young lady at the cashbox with a shy note suggested that I buy a book by Mostafa Nimer Da3mas and Mahmoud Al Aza about Naji Al Ali and Hanthala entitled, Hanthala: The Immortal Eye Witness. I did!
For someone who loved Naji Al Ali's drawings but did not know much about him I found the book very useful.
This is a quote by Al Ali and that I believe summarizes the reason behind my passion and the passion of many, who are present here tonight, for this medium.
"Drawing to me is a profession, a job and a hobby. Even though I've been working as a caricaturist for over 20 years now, I've never felt satisfied with my work. Sometimes I feel helpless in my inability to employ this expressive language in conveying my angst as it is quite immense. Still, drawing gives me an inner balance; it consoles me and at the same time tortures me. I often say that the caricatures I draw make me a fortunate man, and luckier from others, as it allows me to vent out my anxieties; others may die of the anguish that burdens their hearts and injects its daily dose of venom in t

Before reading Art Spieglman's Maus I and II I decided that I should read Joe Sacco's Palestine.
Palestine has always been in my mind: Ever since a man and his family, Michelle Khasho Derderian, fled from Zionist tyranny in 1948, and arrived to Jordan.
I know that my hand and the hands of the artists, who will participate in this artistic endeavor is not in the fire like those who are under fir

Thanks to Jeph Loeb (writer) and Tim Sale (artist) my love for the caped crusader was re-ignited.
The Long Halloween is basically Batman vs. the Mafia, The Joker, Scarecrow and Catwoman in addition to other interesting characters.
It also introduces Harvey Two Face and gives Commissioner Gordon a far superior role like in the recent Christopher Nolan movies, however, this graphic novel is far be

As the title suggests this book is about the right to be hostile, the right to express your own thoughts and above all the right to be you ;-})
Aaron McGruder leaves no stone unturned in his scathing yet funny critique of the United States of America, Afro-Americans and everyone else.
His characters Huey and Riley Freeman verbally abuse and bat everyone into a pulp. If you need to know they are

The moment I mentioned this book during my presentation last night I directly looked at Laila Demashqieh, who from the start of this project, encouraged and inspired each and everyone one of us with her color filled attitude.
Her eyes glittered; we both love Marjane Satrapi.
It was one of the first graphic novels that we talked about during our first meetings at Cups and Kilos in Al Rabieh befor

I don't recommend this to anyone with existential issues as it is quite depressing.
I was barely able to finish it.
If you thought the movie starring Will Smith was bleak this is bleaker!
Based on the advise of Ramzi Jaber, from TEDxRamallah, who honored us with his presence last night to tell us more about his initiative and an inspiring website called, Palestine stories, we want to create sto

How do you summarize a graphic novel of this magnitude?
Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gobbons Watchmen is about deconstructing the caped and masked superhero genre turning them into humans with obvious and hidden fault-lines.
It also has a comic within a comic storyline. A very dense read that is worth the re-read once you are done and survived its slow pace.
Introduced a new

Graphic novels are not just about caped superheroes, sci-fi, horror and romance; they can be about anything.
Gareth Hinds decided to illustrate Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon poem about a hero and superman called Beowulf, who is out to save the court of King Hrothgar from an evil and man eating monster called Grendel.
The poem is quite amazing.
You've probably seen the animated version with Angelina J

The main story in Yoshihiro Tatsumi's The Push Man and Other Stories. About a man whose job is to push as many people he can into the subway. Still analyzing the moral behind it and will soon post it here ;-})

If you've seen the movie you'd say that V is a freedom fighter; if you read this graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. You'd realize that there is more to this masked vigilante than fighting a totalitarian government ... and its not all pleasant and noble.
Unlike the movie that centered around V and Evey Hammond there is more to this masterpiece than just two characters brought together by

Yoshihiro Tatsumi's The Push Man and Other Stories as the title indicates is a graphic novel in short stories format. The simple yet clear line style captures the bleak post World War II Tokyo.
In spite of his disturbing themes Tatsumi's stories are quite realistic and universal.

Long before The Matrix movies there was Ghost in The Shell. Shirow Masamune's cyber punk future graphic novel showcases a grim reality especially with the spread of techno terrorism and shady international affairs that quite prophetically reflect our present time after 9/11.
Amidst all the chaos Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg operative from Section 9, an anti-terrorism tech unit, soon finds herself as

Fumi Yoshinaga's Ooku: The Inner Chamber Volume 1 is a historical fantasy.
The same way the Japanese have a thing for technology and robots they have a soft spot for sexually themed comics.
Sexuality is an area still not touched upon, at least directly, in Arabian comics.
Compared to other Japanese comics, which are internationally known as Mangas, derived from the word Mangaka, which translate

Three writers and illustrators and one character Phillip Marlowe, the relentless and unrelenting gum shoe.
Film Noir at its best thanks to Raymond Chandler's detective stories and central character Marlowe that in a way started the Film Noir genre that was solidified by a string of movies starring Hamphrey Bogart.
It Rhymes with Lust is another example of Film Noir graphic novels. Quite fun to r

R. Crumb is not for the coy and lighthearted. One of America's most celebrated underground comic artists Crumb's work is very sexual, crude and at times shocking.
His impressive illustration style will often make you overlook his shocking narrative.

If you thought The Ring was scary and creepy think again! Hideshi Hino is the man of horror. The Red Snake, which is the first in this series of Japanese maim and mayhem, is probably the best read in terms of storytelling.
Hino twists his Post World War II Tokyo memories into yarns of gruesome death and horror.
Pure genius ...

Charles M. Schulz' masterpiece about student angst and school blues. This should be included in our educational system's curriculum!

Samandal is one of the most successful comic magazines in the Middle East. The artwork reflects its Avant-garde approach to visuals and storytelling.
The brain child of four amazing Lebanese artists: Lena Merhej, Hatem Imam, Omar Khoury and FDZ the dense magazine that comes in black and white is quite inspiring ...
It features the works of artists like Fouad Mezher, Ghadi Ghosn, Nidal Elkhairy,

Comics that have been often linked to children in spite of their often larger than life issues and topics discussed ...
Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts is the only reason why I grab a Jordan Times newspaper. Now I directly go to their website.
Bill Waterson's Calvin and Hobbes are quite the dynamic duo. A boy and a tiger. Won't spoil the plot for you so try reading it to learn more about the amazing

Not exactly a graphic novel Happens to Me of All People! is an original approach to the collaborative process between a writer and an artist.
Mohammad Tomaleh, who passed away, may he rest in peace, is one of Jordan's renowned satirical writers.
Instead of illustrating his short essays Emad Hajjaj provided artwork that reflected the themes and spirit of Tomaleh's pieces.

Hassan Everywhere is a book about illustrated dreams and poems written by its late writer Hassan Hourani. Hourani's minimal illustrations and echoing words part of a jointed narrative are quite haunting and offer us a plethora of dreamscapes.

Sendak is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are.
Imagination at its best. Kneading dough into a plane. You have to read it.

Who doesn't know Abu Mahjoob! Emad Hajjaj over the years has managed to create a number of memorable characters. If you want to learn more about us and our habits and social norms this is the book to buy.

You don't have to know and read all the comic books and graphic novels in the world but you at least have to know Tin Tin or Lucky Luke.
Herge's The Adventures of Tintin (Les Aventures de Tintin) are among the most enduring and renowned comic series in the world. It is about a young journalist, his faithful dog, an alcoholic captain friend and absent minded professor.
Together the three or four

A children's book by Maurice Bernard Sendak, an American writer and illustrator.
Amazing visuals that sort of reflect everyone's childhood especially the uber-imaginative.

3antara Magazine, was another magazine produced by a Lebanese publishing house, Besat El Ree7, the Magic Carpet. Only this time its content was original and according to the magazine one line editorial, "drawn by university graduates."
3antara is the name of Antarah ibn Shaddad, was a poet and a warrior, who rose to prominence even though he was the son of an Ethiopian slave impregnated by a powe

This 1987 volume was more like a comprehensive children's magazine published in Egypt.
Original Mickey Mouse and Donald stories were translated into Arabic with a dose of Egyptian humor.
The Egyptian publishing houses also published Mickey Jeep (a pocket sized Mickey mouse magazine with other Disney Characters) and Mickey's Magazine. They were highly entertaining especially if you were into Duck

I wanted to share with the attendees some of the books that shaped my imagination like this volume of Mickey and Batoot, which is Arabic for Donald.
When I asked those who read these books to raise their hands everyone present did.
Almost all of us read the same stories and comic books ... yet we all found our different inner voices and styles as writers, illustrators and visual artists.
The in

In the Middle East The Smurfs are known as Sanafar, whoever coined the name when the series was being dubbed in Lebanon is a genius.
The Smurfs are the creation of Belgian Cartoonist Peyo, whose real name is Pierre Culliford.
This is one of two albums that were popular back in the 1980s. The majority of comic books, like this book, were translated to Arabic by Lebanese Publishing Houses.

Of course no one drew Palestine the way Naji Al Ali did. The man's work is like a fragmented eternal love poem of pain, death, angst, pride and dedication to his tormented mistress Palestine.

I was at Books@Cafe buying comics when the young lady at the cashbox with a shy note suggested that I buy a book by Mostafa Nimer Da3mas and Mahmoud Al Aza about Naji Al Ali and Hanthala entitled, Hanthala: The Immortal Eye Witness. I did!
For someone who loved Naji Al Ali's drawings but did not know much about him I found the book very useful.
This is a quote by Al Ali and that I believe summar

One of many expressive illustrations by one of the most amazing artists, who are spearheading the Arab cartooning world in defending the Palestinian Cause: Nidal Al Khairy.
This is the link to his visual blog: http://nidalelkhairy.blogspot.com/

It is very important for us as aspiring comic artists acknowledge the works of other comic artists especially those who have started before us like Renowned and Veteran Cartoonist Jalal Al Rifai, Emad Hajja and Omar Al Abdalat.
Will soon publish a list of the all the artists who are included in this book, The Cartoonists, which is quite enjoyable to go through

A touching image of two women talking to their relatives through a barrier. Another brilliant panel by Sacco that reflects reality.

Many Arab artists covered Palestine in their writings and illustrations especially caricaturists, whose one panels rely on the one arch story-line and visual.
This is an amazing panel by Mahmoud Hindawi, an amazing artist, who created a very popular comic strip starring a lighthearted young man called Nahfoot. His name alludes to his fun loving nature.

Nedal Hashem, who is the creator and editor of www.arabcartoon.net, an amazing website, one of the first to cover the news of caricaturists from the Middle East and the region.
This is a work that showcases the unity of Muslims and Christians against Zionist aggression.

Zionist soldiers in Ramallah.
Sacco's Palestine is filled with narration boxes and detail: Truly the work of a journalist, who has an eye for detail.

Sacco demonstrating the hardships that Palestinians undergo when traveling around Palestine.

Joe Sacco, Brilliantly fused the art of comics with journalism. After spending two months in the West Bank, Gaza and the Occupied Territories Sacco wrote and illustrated a total of 280 pages.

Sacco brilliantly captures the details of a Palestinian neighborhood. His art is a fusion of the Clear Line style with his own styling of both characters and surroundings.

A short comic by Hassan Manasrah, whose work always humbles and at the same time inspires me.
Last night I was preparing my presentation when I saw Hassan's work. His amazing work and the work of other artists in Jordan reminded me to keep things simple during my presentation and not try to come out as a know-it-all as I don't know it all ;-})

Another William Blake masterpiece.
This one is entitled: Expulsion from Paradise

Had Johann Gutenberg, who invented the printing press, been an illustrator he would have opted to illustrate the Holy Bible instead of printing it.
Gutenberg sadly died poor. Another example on how not all creative people make good money out of creativity especially writers in the Middle East.

Actually William Blake, the English poet and engraver, did that. He created engravings of scenes and stories from the Holy Bible.
The man was so creative that he illustrated his poems. Probably one of the first graphic novel writers and illustrators in the world.
This one is entitled Eve's Creation

This is probably the first graphic novel panel in the world on a cave wall from somewhere around the world.
Little Boy: Mommy! Daddy and Uncle are going to hunt wild animals and won't take me with them?
The ancient people of earth knew how to illustrate and design but they weren't much into writing yet.